Study Helps- Example

*******Warning: Lengthy Post******
This post is to provide an example of the study helps given in a previous post. While it is not exhaustive, it will give you an idea of how to get the most from the text. Look for the local/cultural, temporal, details as you read the passage. You may need to read the entire chapter to get a complete picture. You will have to fill in the blanks, I don't always write out complete sentences. ( That is why I didn't make an "A" in my Principles of Teaching class). I would make abbreviated lesson plans when the prof wanted a complete 'how to' lesson.

Genesis 26:12-35 (New International Version)
12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us."
17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
19 Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, [a] because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. [b] 22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, [c] saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land."
23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
26 Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27 Isaac asked them, "Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?"
28 They answered, "We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, 'There ought to be a sworn agreement between us'-between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD."
30 Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31 Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.
32 That day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We've found water!" 33 He called it Shibah, [d] and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba. [e]
34 When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Footnotes:
a Genesis 26:20 Esek means dispute .
b Genesis 26:21 Sitnah means opposition .
c Genesis 26:22 Rehoboth means room .
d Genesis 26:33 Shibah can mean oath or seven .
e Genesis 26:33 Beersheba can mean well of the oath or well of seven .

Local: Gerar in the land of the Philistines

Temporal: O.T. days, during time of famine

Details: Who- Issac, Rebekah, Abimelech, Philistines
What- Blessings on Issac, Envy of the Philistines, wells of Abraham
When- time of famine Where- Gerar
Why- Issac's blessings due to God's covenant w/Abraham

Universal: Famine/lack can happen any where, to any people group

Timeless: Blessings from God, jealousy, and hindrances can occur anytime.

Principles: God can bless you at anytime, anywhere, anyway. What He promised that will He do. The enemy will notice your blessings and will try to steal them.(Actually he does not want them, he just don't want you to have them.) When God is for you, you will fulfill His purpose despite the attack of the enemy.

The Philistines did not want the water/wells they just didn't want Issac to have them. = enemy

Issac followed the path Abraham had travelled before him. = Follow after godly examples

Issac moved from well to well as the Philistines strove w/him. = Keep moving ahead in God, put disappointments behind.

Abimelech finally decided to make peace w/Issac. = your enemies will eventually see the need to join in your blessings instead of hindering them.

There is so much in this passage that can be applied to our everyday life. Your insights/comments are welcomed and appreciated.